Patent GB-831631-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to machines for running together pairs of gears
IPC: B23F19/02
Filed: 1957-12-20
Abstract: 831,631. Gear-testing machines. GLEASON WORKS. Dec. 20, 1957 [Dec. 28, 1956], No. 39652/57. Class 106 (2). [Also in Groups XXIII and XXV] A machine for running together gears G, P for testing or lapping comprises a head 21, a gear spindle housing 29 movable in the head, a clamp 44, 46, 47 having a play connection with the housing 29 and adapted to be clamped to the head 21, a spring 57 urging the clamp to one limit of its play connection and a manually-operable device 49 for in sequence applying the clamp and moving the spindle housing 29 to the other limit position of the play connection against the resistance of the spring 57. As shown generally in Fig. 1, a master gear G is mounted on a head 15 which can be adjusted both horizontally and vertically along ways 12, 16 respectively and the gear P to be tested or lapped is fixed to a spindle 26 in a second head 21 adjustable along ways 22. The spindle 26 is mounted in the housing 29, Fig. 2, pivoted to the head 21 at 31 and urged counterclockwise by a spring 32, a stop 34 limiting the movement. A centring device formed by an arm 35, Fig. 3, acting on a button 38 holds the housing 29 in a fixed position to allow adjustments to be made and can be released under the action of a spring 42 when the handle 41 is unscrewed. The housing 29 is also held to the head 21 by the clamp which consists of a collet 45, fixed to a non-rotatable tube 44 and having flexible fingers 46 forced apart by a wedge 47 under the action of a spring 48. The clamp can be released by screwing up a nut 49 on the tube 44, thus forcing the wedge 47 to the left. The tube 44 has a play connection with a rod 53 held to the housing 29 by a pin and slot 59, 61. The limits of movement of the play connection are a shoulder 54 on the rod 53 and a washer 55, the position of which is' adjustable by use of a calibrated nut 56. The spring 57 urges the tube 44 against the washer 55, but if the nut 49 is unscrewed it acts against the nut 56 and forces the tube 44 to the left against the shoulder 54 and when this happens a contact 66 is made. A cam 83 on the nut 49 acts on an upwardlyurged rod 79 and, when the clamp is secured, holds the rod 79 in a slot 81, Fig. 2, in an adjustable plate 72 fixed to the machine 10. The action of this device is such that the head 21 can only be moved from the position determined by the plate 72 when the clamp is inoperative. In operation, suitable gauges are mounted in place of the gears G, P and the heads 15, 21 adjusted, with the centring device 35, 38 applied and the clamp 46, 47 released, until the gear spindles are in their correct relationship, including a predetermined amount of backlash if required. This position is maintained by a stop 68 on the housing 21 abutting the adjustable plate 72, fine adjustment being made by means of a screw 77. A dial gauge 84, responsive to pivotal movement of the housing 29 is then set to zero. The head 21 is then withdrawn to the right, a pair of gears G, P are mounted on the heads 15, 21 and the head 21 moved forward to re-engage the stop 68 with the plate 72. The centring device 35, 38 is released and the gears will then be held in metal-to-metal engagement with the clamp 46, 47 released and the tube 44 abutting the washer 55. The calibrated nut 56 is then adjusted to the position in which it will separate the tube 44 from the shoulder 54 by a predetermined amount of backlash. The nut 49 is then unscrewed a fraction of a turn, thereby applying the clamp 46, 47 and moving the tube 44 to abut the shoulder 54, thus setting up the required backlash. At the same time the contact 66 is made, thus allowing the gears to be driven for lapping or testing by an electric motor. The reading of the dial gauge 84 is noted after the device has been set up, to give an indication of any inaccuracy in the gear mounting distance, i.e. the distance between the back face of gear 9 and the axis of spindle 26. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 657,499.